Many exciting developments in the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) have emerged recently, including new tools
to assess the results of clinical trials (eg, the definition of remission and a radiologic scoring tool). New controlled studies
examined the equivalence of meloxicam to naproxen, the efficacy of leflunomide but the superiority of methotrexate, and the
use of infliximab in polyarthritis JIA. Initial studies have shown the potential of anti-interleukin (IL)-1 and anti-IL-6
receptor antibody therapy for systemic JIA. Corticosteroid-sparing medications including the use of "biologic modifiers" for
JIA-associated uveitis have been described. Evidence-based guidelines for the main subtypes of JIA have been published. However,
good evidence on the treatment of several disease subtypes is still lacking. Studies of new medications and the use of combination
therapy, including aggressive induction therapy early in the disease course, are necessary to continue improving the outcome
of JIA patients.